Quince is the usual Spanish short form for a quinceañera celebration.
The shortened term comes from quince años, the phrase meaning “fifteen years.” In conversation, invitations, and event planning, families may say la quince or simply quince when the context is clear. The longer words quinceañera and fiesta de quince años remain common as well.
Quince should not be confused with quinceavo, which is an ordinal form meaning fifteenth, or quincena, which commonly refers to a two-week period or a payday. The similar-looking words have different meanings and grammatical uses.
Usage varies across Spanish-speaking communities. Some speakers prefer quinceañera for the celebrant and quince for the party, while others use quince for both. The abbreviation is informal and does not replace the full term in every country or situation.